Urban beekeeping: When bees stop making honey

Urban beekeeping is big, and many urban beekeepers are very successful at making honey. In fact, a French beekeepers’ association study found that city bees in Paris generate more honey and have lower mortality rates than rural bees.

However, many urban beekeepers struggle at some point with making enough honey to collect or even to keep the colony alive. During the first season, rookie beekeepers can expect to struggle with their colonies. Honey production may be minimal, and the colonies may need additional food to make it through the winter.

More experienced beekeepers may also face a variety of problems making honey. Beekeeping is a complex and intricate pursuit with many variables. Here are a few potential reasons for a drop in honey production. These are just some troubleshooting suggestions. We recommend joining and consulting a beekeeping organization for more specific and local help with your bees and their honey.

Watch the weather

Bees that live in a given climate are well-adapted for making honey in that climate. But weather patterns seem to be getting more extreme, erratic and unpredictable in many areas, creating problems for bees and the plants they pollinate.

Too much spring rain can keep the bees from venturing out of their winter hives. On the other hand, not enough rain will limit flower growth. Likewise, extreme heat and cold are also dangerous for bees.

Be aware of extreme temperatures and precipitation, and be prepared to provide supplemental food and support to help the bees adjust.

Keep out predators

Bears, skunks and other predators are attracted to the honey in a hive, and they may destroy hives or stress out the bees with threats and attacks, lowering productivity.

Some experts warn that once a predator finds a hive, there may be no effective way to keep them away, and it may be necessary to move the hive.

Other pests are less obvious. Mites and other invasive insects can infiltrate hives and kill off bees. Essential oils and other mild chemicals can target destructive mites.

Minimize pesticides

On the other hand, bees are sensitive to pesticides. There are pesticides for some mites and other pests, but obvious care must be taken with pesticides around bee colonies.

Try to avoid pesticides during blooming periods, as bees tend to visit blossoms. If necessary, apply pesticides when the air is calm and bee activity is minimal, such as in the evening or early night hours.

Grow the right plants

Some of the lack of productivity among rural French bees can be traced to monoculture crops and pesticide use in many farming areas. A successful bee colony needs a wide variety of the right plants for making honey. The best plants may vary by region. Consult a local beekeepers’ group for recommendations.

Keep in mind that some popular flowers have been cultivated for showy, bright color with little pollen or nectar. Also don’t worry so much about weeds, especially flowering varieties. Dandelions may mar your perfect lawn, but bees love them.

The right timing

It is also important to stimulate production and harvest honey in ways that ensure peak colony strength at the same time that your main flowers are starting to bloom and produce nectar.

Bees naturally tend to wait until the nectar is in full flow before increasing their population, but this only produces enough honey for the hive, not a surplus for human consumption.

Limit the competition

There may seem to be an abundant variety of the right plants blooming at the right time, but if every urban yard hosts a substantial bee colony, the bees will not all have enough plants to pollinate. The Guardian newspaper notes that London has seen an unprecedented rise in urban beekeeping in recent years, and some experts are beginning to worry if the bees are exceeding sustainable levels.

The article notes that researchers have yet to quantify the number of bees that an urban yard can support. Again, there are a number of complex variables that differ from place to place and month to month.

Turn off your cell phone

Finally, a lack of honey or a problem in the hive could be attributable to colony collapse disorder. The large-scale bee die-off was identified and defined in 2006, but has not been definitively diagnosed.

One theory links colony collapse disorder to pesticides and large-scale commercial beekeeping practices that move bees out of their natural habitats. However, other studies have connected the problem to electromagnetic waves, particularly from cell phones.

In one study released this year in India, researchers attached cell phones to bee hives and turned on the phones for two 15-minute periods each day. Three months later, the bees had stopped making honey and the hives had shrunk significantly.

There are many possible reasons for a drop in honey production from an urban bee hive. If the above tips don’t help, consult a local beekeeping society, where they would be happy to help.

Steve Graham is a Networx- http://www.networx.com - writer. Read more articles like this one- http://www.networx.com/article/urban-beekeeping-when-bees-stop-making - on Networx.com.